Shaun Maloney set to join Chicago Fire in MLS

The exodus of British players to Major League Soccer looks set to continue with Wigan Athletic midfielder Shaun Maloney.

According to reports from MLSSoccer.com - the league's official website - citing reports from the Chicago Sun Times and others, says that Maloney could be about to follow in the footsteps of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and co in joining the North American league.

Maloney was told that he could leave Wigan by their new head coach Malky Mackay and looked set to make a step up to Premier League side Leicester City, but now will be joining the Fire in MLS with the two parties agreeing terms on a deal that could either see the Scottish international joining now or at the end of the season on a free transfer when his contract runs out.

According to Jeffrey Carlisle of ESPN, wages and length of the contract have been completely agreed with Maloney, his representatives and Chicago, but the only stumbling block is between Chicago and Wigan with the English club potentially demanding a transfer fee for Maloney to make his move now.

The 31-year old Maloney joined Wigan for £1million pounds in 2011 from Scottish giants Celtic. He has made 19 appearances so far this season for the Latics, but apparently Mackay isn't impressed with the diminutive playmaker.

Maloney wont the Scottish Premier League five times with Celtic during his time north of the border. He was named Scottish PFA Player and Young Player of the year in 2006, and also enjoyed success with Wigan where he was part of the side that shocked Manchester City in the final of the 2013 FA Cup.

Maloney made 49 appearances in the Premier League, scoring nine times, before the Latics were relegated to the Championship. He will join a Chicago side that finished 9th in the Eastern Conference last year and are currently managed by former Ipswich player Frank Yallop.

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